Haley Campaign Press Release - Trump's Defense Secretary Criticizes Trump's Mocking of Military

"Donald Trump never understood the importance and virtue of military service. It's not something he understands or appreciates."

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Mark Esper, U.S. Secretary of Defense under Donald Trump, weighed in on Donald Trump's attacks against Nikki Haley's husband, Maj. Michael Haley, and revealed some harsh truths about Trump's lack of respect for those in uniform.

Watch his interview with CNN's Jim Acosta here.

"Look, it's hard to understand why he would do that. What does he gain from that, particularly in a very pro-military state like South Carolina?

"And clearly her husband has served the military honorably; he's a combat vet from an earlier deployment in 2013 or so in Afghanistan, and has been on what will be a years-long deployment to Djibouti, right across from Yemen – coincidentally – so he's not in some cush assignment somewhere.

"So look, her husband's serving honorably, I don't know why he would attack him like that. It just doesn't make any sense. And look, we also know Melania [Trump] hasn't been on the road with the former president so, none of this adds up. I give Nikki Haley credit for her response: very tough, very firm. So, good for her."

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"I can't explain it, I don't understand what he would gain from it…With regard to the broader issue, I never felt that Donald Trump understood the importance and virtue of military service, of committing yourself to service in uniform to defend your country and your fellow Americans; it's just not something he understands or appreciated. So maybe some of that's in there, but it just doesn't make much sense. I served 21 years in uniform, I went to West Point. It doesn't add up for me."